Saturday, November 17, 2012

Emperor
Charlemagne is well known for his political and cultural achievements in what
is termed the Carolingian Renaissance. The court of Charlemagne was a meeting
point of three cultural and scholarly traditions, the Irish,
Italian and English. Many Irish scholars contributed to this European cultural
revival. Among these wandering Irish scholars was the famous Clement of Ireland (c. 750 – 818) who was a teacher under the patronage of Charlemagne.
His arrival to the continent was mentioned in the medieval ‘Life of Charlemagne’ by Notker Balbulus (c.
884).

“Now
it happened, when Charlemagne had begun to reign alone in the western parts of
the world, and the pursuit of learning had been almost forgotten throughout all
his realm, and the worship of the true God was faint and weak, that two Irishmen
came from Ireland to the coast of Gaul along with certain traders of Britain.
These Irishmen were unrivalled for their skill in sacred and secular learning:
and day by day, when the market crowds gathered round them for trade, they exhibited no
goods for sale, but cried out and said, "Everyone that desires wisdom, let
him draw near and take it at our hands; for it is wisdom that we have for
sale."

Now
they declared that they had wisdom for sale because they said that the people
cared not for what was given freely but only for what was sold, hoping that
this might incite them to purchase wisdom along with other goods; and
also perhaps hoping that by this announcement they themselves might become a
wonder and a marvel to everyone: which indeed turned out to be the case. They continued
shouting their proclamation and in the end those who wondered at them, or
perhaps thought them insane, brought the matter to the ears of King Charlemagne,
who always loved and sought after wisdom. Charlemagne ordered them to come with
all speed into his presence and asked them if it were true, as fame reported of
them, that they had brought wisdom with them. They answered, "We both
possess it and are ready to give it, in the name of God, to those who seek it
worthily." Again he asked them what price they asked for it; and they
answered, "We ask no price, O king; but we ask only for a fit place for
teaching and quick minds to teach; and besides food to eat and clothing, for
without these we cannot accomplish our pilgrimage." This answer filled the
king with a great joy… he made one of them named Clement reside in Gaul, and to
him he sent many boys both of noble, middle and humble birth…and he set aside
for them buildings suitable for study. But he sent the second Irish scholar
into Italy and gave him the monastery of Saint Augustine near Pavia, that all
who wished might gather there to learn from him.”